View gallery Image Credit: Getty Images American Idol has been a staple of American reality TV since the early 2000s. Hopeful singers audition for the chance to become the next music sensation, and although the goal is to receive a record deal, the cherry on top is the cash prize the winners get. But what about the contestants who make it to the final rounds of the show? It would make sense for some, if not all, of the participants are compensated for their time on the reality TV series. After all, some aspiring music artists leave their jobs in their hometowns to chase their dreams.